Kurt sat fidgeting slightly in a coffee shop off campus. The place was new to him, small and cosy with plush chairs and mahogany tables, a small stage set in the corner for what he assumed was some kind of weekly entertainment. It had been suggested by Blaine whilst they exchanged numbers with excited smiles that they meet there to plan how to go about their current assignment. However, Blaine was fifteen minutes late already and Kurt was beginning to feel seriously uncomfortable.

He was just about to gather his things and leave when the boy himself came barrelling through the door, running his hands vigorously through his curls to try and tame them, but to no avail. Scanning the room, he spotted Kurt and grinned brightly, making his way over. The closer Blaine came to him the more Kurt was able to take in. He wore a simple white wife beater spattered with acrylic paint and dark jeans with battered grey converse high tops. He was so beautifully dishevelled it was hard for Kurt not to stare as Blaine took a seat across from him.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," breathed a still grinning Blaine Anderson, looking a bit wild eyed "I came across a six year old road block."

"Oh?"

"Arabella." Kurt raised an eyebrow in question.

"Oh sorry," Blaine laughed self-deprecatingly, "Arabella is my niece, Cooper was out for a job so he dropped her off last minute. It's been a while since me and Belle last hung out anyway but Coop was late and she decided to drown herself in acrylic."

"Aww that's adorable." Kurt laughed, the sound clear as a bell as he imagined Blaine sitting across from a curly haired little girl covered in finger paint, laughing.

"Yeah, I mean she's a keen little artist," he smiled softly, eyes twinkling "it's always "Uncle B? Will you help me draw a castle?" or "Uncle B? PWEASE can we use the special pink paint today?""

"Uncle B? That is precious." Kurt teased as a blush crept its way up Blaine's neck.

"Well Belle sure is" Blaine rest his chin in his hands, admiring the subtle way that rays of sunlight filtered through the window, making Kurt's hair glow golden and his eyes sparkle like topaz. "Coop has most of her canvases up around their apartment."

Kurt gaped at Blaine. "You let her use canvases, wow. Canvases are expensive and you're just a student." Blaine shrugged.

"I had a few smaller ones left over from a commission I was working on a while back; when I work for myself I usually just use my sketchbooks or the walls."

"You use the walls? How do you get away with that in dorms?"

"What? Oh, I don't live in the dorms?"

"Well where do you live?" Kurt muttered; confused.

"I have a studio apartment a few blocks from here."

"You what? Never mind canvases, you have a studio? Just how are you paying for all this?" Blaine shuffled in his seat uncomfortably, looking down and away from Kurt. So many questions; Kurt's sudden inquisitiveness made him wary and vulnerable. He hated it. Hated that, after all this time, he couldn't help but somehow still let people have a hold over him.

"Urm. My parents decided it beneficial that I take permanent residence elsewhere seeing as though I'm no longer welcome at home." He could hear them now, business like tones echoing through his head like the silence that always filled the air in the house he never could call home. The bone deep disappointment and complete detachment radiating through him, chilling him to the core.

"I'm so sorry Blaine-" Kurt reached out to place a hand on top of Blaine's, but Blaine's pulled back "I didn't mean to pry, you don't-I'm sorry I-"

"It's fine." Blaine's tone was too sharp, too bitter causing him to wince slightly. "I'm sorry, I'm not used to this. You just-" Blaine was cut off abruptly by the sound of his phone ringing. It was Cooper, fuck; he glanced at Kurt who gave him a brief nod looking worriedly at Blaine's phone.

"Hello?"

"What? No."

"Coop, I'm busy".

"I already told you, I can't afford any."

"If you don't believe me then that's your choice."

"Yes okay fine I'll take her."

"NO. How could you even think for one second I would have that shit while she's around Coop? Jesus, I love Belle like she's my fucking own okay?"

"No seriously, bring her round in twenty."

"Tell her yes I will draw a unicorn for her."

"Yep."

"Yes. Bed by seven I KNOW."

"No problem. Bye."

Blaine hung up on his brother and sighed, turning to Kurt who was wearing a confused expression. "You have to go?"

"I do. Cooper needs me to look after Arabella."

"Hmm, I understand. As long as we can reschedule?" Blaine paused for a second thinking. He wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Kurt Hummel today.

"Come with me?" He asked hastily.

"What?"

"Help me with Arabella? Besides I'm pretty sure she's sick of me by now and by the looks of it you could draw a mean unicorn." Blaine smiled wryly, standing up and fixing Kurt with burning honey soaked eyes.

"I would love to spend my day drawing with Arabella and you, Blaine."

"Well then, it's decided. Get ready to meet a six year old who lusts for finger paint and lives entirely in her own little world."

"Sounds perfect."

.oOoOo.

As soon as Blaine had the door to his apartment open a squealing mass of brown curls was running at him, subsequently attaching itself to his shins as he shuffled into the apartment with Kurt close behind. Blaine grunted slightly as he tried to make the short distance to the kitchen island to drop down his keys, giving up halfway and lifting little Arabella up into the air. His chest fluttered a little at both Belle's and Kurt's laughter filling his usually empty home, echoing off the ornate walls and filling the hollow space and himself with joy. Blaine felt his breath catch as he settled Arabella in his arms and turned to see Kurt looking at them, stunning eyes swimming with fondness and tenderness.

"Hey Belle?" Blaine stage whispered conspiratorially, looking at Kurt as he bobbed her back and forth on his hip "This beautiful man here is Kurt and he's a friend of mine so promise not to maul him to death ‘kay?" Blaine winked at Kurt as he blushed prettily. There was a loud cough from the middle of the living room and all three turned to look at a thoroughly harassed looking Cooper Anderson.

Cooper was dressed in simple black slacks and an un-tucked, powder blue shirt. With his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and glossy chestnut hair sticking every which way, he frowned at Blaine, eyes travelling minutely between him and the unexpected guest that had accompanied him.

"Hey Squirt" he said affecting a cheery tone.

"Don't call me that" Blaine said defensively.

"What took you so long?"

"I told you I was busy." Blaine continued "By the way Cooper, this is Kurt Kurt's my partner for this semester's piece for class."

"It's nice to meet you Kurt." Cooper beamed, smiling flirtatiously shaking Kurt's hand "I hope you can handle him," he jerked his head towards Blaine, "bit of a wild one". Blaine groaned at Cooper's attempt to talk him up, as Arabella giggled, squirming until he put her down.

"Anyway, I've got to go," Cooper called, Blaine following him to the door as Arabella ran up to her father. "I'll be back soon okay sweetheart? Be good for Uncle B and Mister Kurt and-" Cooper paused, looking up at Blaine and then quickly looking back at his daughter "You have my number if anything happens okay? I love you." He looked back up at Blaine's hurt expression, swallowing thickly and telling Arabella "Why don't you go say hey to Mister Kurt?" before turning back to Blaine as she scampered off.

Cooper stepped out of the door and turned to head down the hall until he heard Blaine's voice behind him.

"Why don't you trust me with her?" Blaine's voice was tight, his features stricken and angry.

 "I just can't trust you Blainey. Not completely. Not anymore." And Cooper left without another word.